Your post has been published!

What's good to get 2nd-hand? Or ... not?

I've been having fun skimming my local Craig's list for cooking-related gear, but I haven't bought anything. Likewise, I'd like to get good at yardsales and thrift shops, but I hate to throw away money on broken crap.

What have you picked up second-hand that was a good move? What have you wondered about (that maybe someone else can speak to)? What have you bought that was a brilliant bargain - something you'll never buy new again? What's your rule of thumb for deciding what to buy and what to pass on?

My experience:

* bought La Machine food processor at a garage sale, same vintage as the hand-me-down I already have -- probably early 80s? They both run great, but I needed spare parts. I bought the second machine for less than the new replacement part.

* Bought a very dated but little-used ice cream maker. It's not winning any style points, but I can make kickass homemade ice cream in it. For $5. like this one: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/p...

* Eyed rusty, nasty-looking cats irons skillets. Passed. They could be reconditioned, I'm sure, but they were too much money to be worth bothering.